Koekemoer leads Menlopark to win, Waterkloof steamrolls Pretoria Boys High
Morné Koekemoer played a crucial innings of 85 runs to guide Die Hoërskool Menlopark to their first victory of the 2025 Titans Platinum A-League on Saturday.
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This season, the Platinum League boasts a cracking lineup of teams and matches. Menlopark, Hoërskool Waterkloof, Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) and Hoërskool Garsfontein‘s Ysbere all possess serious firepower. A four-horse race for the Titans’ honours is not out of the question.
Batting at four for the Parkies, Koekemoer laid the foundation in the middle order, playing the anchor role in his side’s 68-run victory over Prestige College, at the Prestige Oval, in Hammanskraal. His innings, which came off only 70 balls, allowed the rest of the lineup to bat around him.
Firstly, he combined nicely with Luan Barnard (38) in a partnership of 89 runs and then he put on another 27 with young gun Jan-Willem Pienaar (32). Further useful contributions from Jacques de Villiers (28) and James Bronkhorst (24) took the visitors to a healthy 257/9 from their 50 overs.
Ditebogo Chauke, Prestige’s bowling spearhead, found a good rhythm and was rewarded with a return of 3/39 from nine overs. Johan Bosch did the trick for Menlopark, snapping up 4/22 to rip through Prestige College’s top order.
Despite a hard-fought 60 from Omphile Maredi, who also contributed 2/52 with the ball, Menlopark comfortably held the upper hand and eased to a 68-run victory.
In Pretoria, at the André van der Walt Oval, Waterkloof’s AJ de Villiers notched a classy century as the defending champions overpowered Pretoria Boys High. As good opening batsmen do, De Villiers occupied the crease well. He spent 140 deliveries in the middle and struck 15 fours and two sixes in a masterful 124.
‘Kloof captain and hard-hitting middle-order batsman, Riley Miller, made his presence felt, clubbing five sixes in his 75, which helped lift his side to 278/6 from their 50 overs. Eduan Gottfried was the best of Boys High’s bowlers, claiming 3/56 in eight overs.
Unfortunately for Boys High, their batsmen didn’t come close to replicating the efforts of the Waterkloof batsmen, which had plenty to do with Ricardo Crous. He undermined the PBHS innings by knocking over 4/30.
Three wicket hauls from Rivan Booysen (3/10) and Jaco van der Walt (3/21) meant Boys High never got going and they were dismissed for only 100, 178 runs shy of Waterkloof’s total.
Summarised scorecards
Die Hoërskool Menlopark 257/9 (Morné Koekemoer 85, Luan Lombard 38, Jan-Willem Pienaar 32, Jacques de Villiers 28, James Bronkhorst 24; Ditebogo Chauke 3/39, Bongani Sithole 2/35, Omphile Maredi 2/52, Gift Motlhasedi 2/40); Prestige College 189 (Omphile Maredi 60, Lesedi Mabena 24, Mohau Mahlnagu 24; Johan Bosch 4/22, Matt van der Westhuizen 2/33, Jordan van Eck 2/39). Menlopark won by 68 runs.
Hoërskool Waterkloof 278/6 (AJ de Villiers 124, Riley Miller 75, Johan Feuth 33, Extras 20; Eduan Gottfried 3/56, Jaydon Knott-Craig 2/47); Pretoria Boys High 100 (Pieter Steyn 27, Timothy Gordon 21; Ricardo Crous 4/30, Rivan Booysen 3/10, Jaco van der Walt 3/21). Waterkloof won by 178 runs.
